Fan

ABSTRACT

A fan is used to be fixed on an enclosure to dissipate heat from the enclosure. The fan includes a body, a magnetic fixing element mounted on the body, a power connector connected to the body; and a universal serial bus (USB) connector connected to the power connector. The body is fixed on the enclosure under magnetic force of the fixing element. The power connector and the USB connector are selectively connected to a motherboard to receive a voltage to power the body of the fan, to dissipate heat from the enclosure after the motherboard is powered on.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a fan.

2. Description of Related Art

The number of electronic components on a motherboard of a computer continually increases to meet demands for high performance, meanwhile, efforts are made to reduce or at least maintain the same amount of space occupied by the components. Thus, the density of the components in the computer increases, leading to heat dissipation problems. In many cases, a fan is fixed on a wall of an enclosure of the computer with screws to dissipate heat from the enclosure, and a power terminal of the fan is connected to a power interface of the motherboard of the computer. However, it is inconvenient to detach the fan from the enclosure, and the number of power interfaces on the motherboard is too limited to have all fans mounted on the enclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a fan.

FIG. 2 is an assembled, isometric view of the fan of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the fan of FIG. 2 and an enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, an exemplary embodiment of a fan 100 is used to be fixed at an inlet or outlet 220 of an enclosure 200 to dissipate heat from the enclosure 200. The fan 100 includes a body 10, eight magnetic fixing elements 20, a power connector 30 connected to the body 10, and a universal serial bus (USB) connector 40.

The fixing elements 20 have the same structures. Each fixing element 20 includes a first fixing element 22 and a second fixing element 24 both made of magnet.

The first fixing element 22 includes a first sheet 222 and two first pins 224 perpendicularly extending from two ends of the first sheet 222. The second fixing element 24 includes a second sheet 242 and a second pin 244 perpendicularly extending from a center of the second sheet 242. The first and second sheets 222 and 242 are both substantially L-shaped.

The body 10 includes a front wall 12, and a back wall 14 parallel and opposite to the front wall 12. Three through holes 142, corresponding to the first and second pins 224 and 244 of each fixing member 20, are defined in each corner of each of the back wall 14 and front wall 12, arranged in an L shape.

A power pin of the USB connector 40 is connected to a power line of the power connector 30 through a cable 50. A ground pin of the USB connector 40 is connected to a ground line of the power connector 30 through the cable 50. Data pins of the USB connector 40 are idle. The USB connector 40 and the power connector 30 are selectively connected to a USB interface (not shown) or a power interface (not shown) of a motherboard 240 received in the enclosure 200, to receive a voltage to power the body 10 of the fan 100.

Referring to FIG. 2, in assembly, the first and second fixing elements 22 and 24 of each fixing member 20 are attached to opposite sides of a corner of a corresponding one of the front and rear walls 12 and 14. The first pins 224 and the second pin 244 of the fixing element 20 respectively extend through the corresponding through holes 14 of the corners. The distal ends of the first pins 224 of the first fixing element 22 attract two ends of the second sheet 242 of the second fixing element 24. A distal end of the second pin 244 of the second fixing element 24 attracts with a center of the first sheet 222 of the first fixing element 22. The first fixing element 22 attracts the second fixing element 24 under magnetic force of the first and second fixing elements 22 and 24.

Referring to FIG. 3, to dissipate heat from the enclosure 200, the fan 100 is attached to the inlet or outlet 220, near a position with a high temperature of the enclosure 200, thereby the fan 100 is detachably fixed to the enclosure 200 under the magnetic force of the fixing elements 20. The USB connector 40 of the fan 100 is connected to a USB interface of the motherboard 240. When the motherboard 240 is powered on, the USB connector 40 receives the voltage from the USB interface of the motherboard 240, to power the body 10.

The power connector 30 of the fan 100 also can be selected to be connected to the power interface of the motherboard 240. When the motherboard 240 is powered on, the power connector 30 receives the voltage from the power interface of the motherboard 240 to power the body 10.

In other embodiments, the number of the fixing elements 20 can be changed according to need. The number of the through holes 124 defined in the front wall 12 and back wall 14, and the number of the first and second pins 224 and 244 can be changed according to need.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A fan to be fixed to an enclosure to dissipate heat from the enclosure, the fan comprising: a body; a magnetic fixing element mounted to the body; a power connector connected to the body; and a universal serial bus (USB) connector connected to the power connector; wherein the body is fixed to the enclosure under magnetic force of the fixing element, the power connector and the USB connector are selectively connected to a motherboard in the enclosure to receive a voltage to power the body of the fan.
 2. The fan of claim 1, wherein the fixing element comprises a first magnetic fixing element and a second magnetic fixing element, at least one through hole is defined in the body, the first and second fixing elements are fixed to the body and at opposite ends of the at least one through hole under the magnetic force between the first and second fixing elements.
 3. The fan of claim 2, wherein the at least one through hole comprises three through holes, the first fixing element comprises a first sheet and two first pins extending up from the first sheet, the second fixing element comprises a second sheet and a second pin extending up from the second sheet, the first pins and the second pin respectively extend through the through holes to attract the second sheet and the first sheet together.
 4. The fan of claim 3, wherein the first and second sheets are both substantially L-shaped, the first pins extend from two ends of the first sheet, the second pin extends from a center of the second sheet.
 5. The fan of claim 4, wherein the body comprises a front wall and a back wall, the through holes are defined in a corner of one of the front wall and the back wall. 